His Beatitude Onuphry: The saints were saved by feats, we – by sorrows

His Beatitude Onuphry. Photo: UOC press service

On August 27, 2025, the feast day of St. Theodosius of the Caves, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the divine service in the Church of St. Agapitus of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

In his homily, the Primate of the UOC gave a detailed account of the life of the great ascetic of the Caves. Vladyka noted that St. Theodosius began his ascetic labors already in youth: he fasted, wore chains, took off noble garments and clothed himself in poor rags, for which he even endured beatings from his mother.

His Beatitude Onuphry especially emphasized the humility of the holy abbot: “St. Theodosius did not disdain any obedience. He carried out all obediences: he swept the yard, carried water, chopped wood, planted gardens.” The Primate told how those who came to the monastery could not believe that the monk sweeping the yard was actually the abbot of the monastery.

Vladyka also shared an instructive episode from the saint’s life about his encounter with a prince who had lost his way while hunting. The saint fed his guest with monastery food, which seemed extraordinarily tasty to the prince. When asked in astonishment why simple monastic fare was better than princely dishes, the saint replied: “In our monastery everything is done with blessing and with prayer. Prayer adorns and sweetens everything, including food. But your cooks quarrel among themselves and curse instead of praying.”

The Primate stressed that this instruction applies to all matters of daily life: “All worldly affairs must be done with God’s blessing, with prayer. Then everything goes well, everything becomes good, useful, and pleasing both to God and to people.”

Speaking of the blessed repose of St. Theodosius, His Beatitude Onuphry reminded that the monks saw a fiery pillar rising from the holy monastery to heaven at the moment of the saint’s departure to the Lord.

In conclusion of his sermon, the Primate turned to present realities: “We cannot live as St. Theodosius lived, for many reasons. But the holy fathers said that in the last times people will be saved by illnesses and sorrows. Today there is no person who does not have sorrow or some illness. And this is God giving us a chance so that we also may become like the venerable ones.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that celebrations had begun in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in honor of St. Theodosius.

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